Bank of Canada's Tiff Macklem warns on soft economic momentum

KINGSTON, Ont. — Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Tiff Macklem said Thursday the economy is expected to pick up this year, but sounded a note of caution amid a soft housing market and weak export demand.

Bank of Canada Senior Deputy Governor Tiff Macklem has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Mark Carney as head of the central bank as it grapples with slowing growth and record consumer debt levels. Continue reading.

“Near-term momentum now appears to be slightly softer than previously anticipated,” Macklem said in a speech at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.

“The strength and durability of the pick-up in growth through 2013 and beyond will depend critically on how successful we are in regearing our growth to exports, investment and innovation.”

The Bank of Canada is expected to update its economic projections later this month when it makes its next interest rate decision on Jan. 23.

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The central bank’s overnight rate has sat at 1% for more than two years.

In its monetary policy report in October, the Bank of Canada predicted the economy would grow by 2.2% in 2012, 2.3% in 2013 and 2.4% in 2014.

Macklem is considered by many to be the front-runner to replace Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who is leaving later this year to head the Bank of England.

These trends are not sustainable

In his speech, Macklem reiterated many of the same themes Carney has hammered on repeatedly in recent months including concerns about consumer debt.

He noted that Canadians are more indebted than the Americans or the British and housing activity is at a near record share of the economy.

“These trends are not sustainable,” Macklem said.

“The good news is that there are now signs a gradual correction of these imbalances may be under way. It is too early to tell whether it will continue, and there are risks on both sides.”

Macklem’s worries about a softer than expected economy follow a report last that month that the country’s gross domestic product rose just 0.1% in October after a flat September and a 0.1% contraction in August.

However, Statistics Canada said last week that the Canadian economy created 40,000 jobs in December, adding to 59,300 created in November.

The unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage points to 7.1%, its lowest rate in four years.